Foot actuated rotary switch



Sept. 20, 1949. N. H. KOERTGE ET AL 2,482,550

FOOT ACTUATED ROTARY SWITCH Filed May 24, 1 947 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS i9, 20 suitably secured to the base plate 5 forwardly and rearwardly respectively of the pedal supporting bracket l2, the stop posts I9, being independently cooperabie with the pedal I5, as will hereinafter more clearly appear, to limit the pivotal movement thereof in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction respectively.

The pedal I6 is preferably formed with a series of transverse upper ribs 2| to provide a roughened foot engaging surface, and is also normally main tained in slightly tilted position with respect to the horizontal base plate 5 so as to most naturally conform with the foot position of the operator. To compensate for the normal tilt of the pedal [6 and to provide for the cooperation of the stops I9, 20 with the pedal, the pedal I5 is formed with depending front and rear bosses"22,'23 respectively to receive the free upper ends of the respective fixed posts I9, 20. The bosses 22, 23 are of different heights in order to compensate for the in clination of the pedal and the recesses 24, 25 are of approximately the same depth, the bottoms of these recesses being adapted to abut against the upper enlarged end heads 26, 21 of the respective adjacent posts [9, 20 which are of equal height. The difference in length of the bosses 22, 23 thus alone compensates for the pedalinclination and permits the use of similar posts I9, 20 for limiting the swing of the pedal in either direction.

In some cases, it is additionally desirable to provide means for automatically returning the pedal it to normal inclined position, as shown in the drawing, with the end heads 26, 27 of the posts [9, 20 respectively both out of contact with the bottoms of the respective recesses 24, 25; and this is readily accomplished in a simple manner by the provision of helical compression springs 28, 29 respectively embracing the posts I9, 20 and confined between the has tive washers 30, 3| which are constantly urged upwardly against the lower surfaces of the bosses 22, 23 respectively. By reason of the fact that the bosses 22, 23 are of different lengths to co pensate for the normal inclination of the pedal 16, the helical springs 28, 29 may be of like length and strength and therefore interchangeable; and these springs are retained in position upon the posts [9, 20 by the respective washers 30, 3! which are cooperable with the enlarged end heads 26, 21 respectively of the posts.

The shaft l5 forming the pivot for the pedal [5 may be conveniently retained in position on the bracket 12 by means of split retaining rings 32 or the like, and the driven pin l8 may be secured to the pedal in any suitablemanner as by threaded coaction with a tapped hole 33 in the lug 34. The various parts of the unit may be readily manufactured of suitable durable materials such as sheet metal and/or castings, and these parts may be qickly. assembled in an obvious manner. As hereinabove set forth, the stop posts 19, 20 as well as the compression springs 28, 29 and washers 3%], 3i may all be made similar and interchangeable, and the posts i9, 20 may be screw-threaded or otherwise suitably secured to the base plate 5.

The typical rotary reversing switch 1 shown e plate 5 and the respecr counter- 4 drawing, the contacts are open and the switch is in off position with the pedal l6 maintained in neutral and normal inclined position by the springs 28, 29 which are of like strength and un-- der equal pressure; and when the rotor control shaft 8 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the contacts are closed in forward, position while counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 8 causes closing of the contacts in reverse position.

It is therefore apparent that when the improved foot actuated rotary switch has been properly assembled, installed, and positioned on the floor or other locality convenient to the operator, the operation is as follows: The switch is nor= mally maintained in off position as shown by the actionof the springs 28, 29. To effect closing of the switch contacts in a forward direchaving recesses or sockets 24, 25 therein adapted it pin or post 20 herein is provided with movable contacts carried by a rotor which is in turn mounted upon the shaft 8, and this switch is, of course, provided with the usual conduit oulets and may be used with direct current or one, two, or three phase circuits. The lever 9 is so mounted on the shaft 8 that when it is in the position shown in the tion, itis merely necessary for the operator to apply downward foot pressure to the front or too end of the pedal, whereupon the pedal I6 is rotated clockwise to compress the spring 28 and 6X? pand the spring 29 until the swinging of the pedal is positively stopped by the post IS, the end head 26 of which is caused to contact the bottom of the recess 24 in the boss 22. This pedal movement carries the pin 18 downwardly, causing the lever 9 and shaft 8 to which the lever is keyed to swing or rock in a clockwise direction, the pin l8 being caused to travel within the radial slot l I of the lever 9during such movement. Thus, the contacts are rotated toward closed forward position, and the'height of the stop post I9 is such that the above-described movement is positively stopped when the contacts are fully closed in forward position. Upon release of pressur from the pedal IS, the springs 28, 29 cooperate in an obvious manner to automatically return the pedal and its associated parts, including the lever 9, shaft 8, and the movable switch contacts, to normal off position. Obviously, to close the switch contacts in a reverse direction, the operation is reversed with downward pressure being applied to the rear or heel end of the pedal, the pedal [5 being thereby rotated counterclockwise to compress the spring 29 and permit expansion of the spring 28 until the pedal is positively-stopped by the post 20. During such reverse movement, the pin I8 is carried upwardly by the pedal, causing the lever 9 and shaft 8 to rock in a counterclockwise direction with the pin travelling along the slot H of the lever 9. The movable contacts are thereby rotated toward closed reverse position, and such movement is positively stopped by the limwhen the reverse contacts are fully closed. As above set forth, the parts are automatically returned to normal position by the springs 28, 29 upon release of pressure on the pedal I 6. r

From the foregoing detailed description, it is apparent that the present invention provides an improved foot actuated rotary switch assemblage which is extremely simple and compact in construction, highly efficient in operation, and adapted for diverse uses. The improved assemblage is composed of relatively few parts, many of which are interchangeable, which may be readily formed in an obvious manner of available materials and quickly assembled or dismantled. The pedal [6 in normal position is inclined at an angle to thehorizontal for convenience of the operator to most naturally conform to the position of the foot, and the pedal and switch are furthermore actuated to forward'and reverse positions by the'most natural foot movements. If desired, the'springs 28, 29 may be omitted, and

a foot actuated switchwassemblagel. will thereby be provided wherein the swi ch may be entirely manually actua ed to; forward, ofiz. on r v r position at the will of the open-Mom; sw-itelh contacts remaining the various, positions upon release of pressure from the pedal; The improved unit is, extremely durable irrconstruction andv may. beisa'fely operated by ainovice; and allparts ofthe, assemblage. readily accessible for inspecti'on, cleaning, and/or. repair. The stop posts: l9, Zflipositivelylimit pivotal movement of the pedal iii in forward and reverse directions respectively so that the desired contact is positively completed, and the springs 28, 29- function to automatically return the pedal and switch to off position upon completion of an operation. The switch unit is adapted to be utilized in either direct current, or alternating current single or multiple phase electric circuits, and the improved foot actuated rotary switch assemblages may be readily manufactured and assembled in large quantities at moderate cost and have proven highly satisfactory and successful in actual use.

It should be understood that it is not desired or intended to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and it is contemplated that the various description terms used herein shall be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

We claim:

1. A foot actuatable switch assemblage comprising, a rotary switch having a control shaft and being mounted upon a relatively wide base, a foot actuatable pedal swingably supported upon said base in proximity to said switch, said pedal being provided with depending bosses on opposite sides of its support, connecting means between said pedal and said switch control shaft for transferring motion from said pedal to said shaft to operate the switch, and spaced stop posts secured to said base on opposite sides of the pedal support, each of said posts extending toward one of said pedal bosses and being cooperable therewith to limit the swinging movement of said pedal.

2. A foot actuatable switch assemblage comprising, a rotary switch having a control shaft and being mounted upon a relatively wide base, a foot actuatable pedal swingably supported upon said base in proximity to said switch, said pedal being provided with depending bosses on opposite sides of its support, connecting means between said pedal and said switch control shaft for transferring motion from said pedal to said shaft to operate the switch, spaced stop posts secured to said base on opposite sides of the pedal support, each of said posts extending toward one of said pedal bosses and being cooperable therewith to limit the swinging movement of said pedal, and means constantly urging said pedal toward neutral position.

3. A foot actuatable switch assemblage comprising, a rotary switch having a control shaft and being mounted upon a relatively wide base, a foot actuatable pedal swingably supported upon said base in proximity to said switch, said pedal being provided with depending bosses on opposite sides of its support, connecting means between said pedal and said switch control shaft for transferring motion from said pedal to said shaft to operate the switch, spaced stop posts secured to said base on opposite sides of the pedal support,

pedal bosses and being? cooperable: therewithrto;

limit, the; swinging movement of said pedal, and; a. compressionsuring embracing each of said, posts and confinedbetween saidgbaseandeacha of: said pedal, bosses: to constantly urge said pedal;

toward: neutral position.

p 4. YA. foot actuatable switch assemblage com prisingiarotary switch having-a control shaft and, being mounted upon a relatively wide base,,a foot;

actuatable pedal swingably supported upon; said; base inproximityto said switch, said pedal being provided with depending recessed bosses of different heights on opposite sides of its support, the recesses of said bosses being of approximately the same depth, connecting means between said pedal and said switch control shaft for transferring motion from said pedal to said shaft to operate the switch, and spaced stop posts of approximately the same length secured to said base on opposite sides of the pedal support, each of said posts extending toward the recess of one of said pedal bosses and being cooperable therewith to limit the swinging movement of said pedal.

5. A foot actuatable switch assemblage comprising, a rotary switch having a control shaft and being mounted upon a relatively wide base, a foot actuatable pedal swingably supported upon said base in proximity to said switch, said pedal being provided with depending recessed bosses of different heights on opposite sides of its support, the recesses of said bosses being of approximately the same depth, connecting means between said pedal and said switch control shaft for transferring motion from said pedal to said shaft to operate the switch,spaced stop posts of approximately the same length secured to said base on opposite sides of the pedal support, each of said posts extending toward the recess of one of said pedal bosses and being cooperable therewith to limit the swinging movement of said pedal, and means constantly urging said pedal toward neutral posiion.

6. A foot actuatable switch assemblage comprising, a rotary switch having a control shaft and being mounted upon a relatively wide base, a foot actuatable pedal swingably supported upon said base in proximity to said switch, said pedal being provided with depending recessed bosses of different heights on opposite sides of its support, the recesses of said bosses being of approximately the same depth, connecting between said pedal and said switch control shaft for transferring motion from said pedal to said shaft to operate the switch,spaced stop posts of approximately the same length secured to said base on opposite sides of the pedal support, each of said posts extending toward the recess of one of said pedal bosses and being cooperable therewith to limit the swinging movement of said pedal, and a compression spring embracing each of said posts and confined between said base and each of said pedal bosses to constantly urge said pedal toward neutral position.

7. A foot actuatable switch assemblage comprising, a rotary switch having a control shaft and being mounted upon a relatively wide base, a foot actuatable pedal swingably supported upon said base in proximity to said switch, said pedal being provided with depending recessed bosses of difierentheights onoppositesides of its support, the recesses of said bosses being of approximately the same depth, connecting means between said pedal and said switch control shaft for transferring motion from said pedal to said shaft to operate 7 the switch, spaced stop posts of approximately the same length secured to said base on opposite sides of'the pedal support, each of said posts extending toward the recess of one of said pedal bosses and tion, said springs being of similar length and 10' strength.

NOBEL H. KOERTGE. EDWARD L. RUCKS. V

REFERENCES crran The following references are of record in the tile 01 this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Roe Jan. 6, 1925 McGee Sept. 8, 1931 Smith Nov. 1, 1932 Nicholas Mar. 9, 1943 

